Emergency warning device



March 13, 1962 F. REINHOLDT EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE Filed April 27,1959 IN V EN TOR.

United States atent tice 3,024,702 EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE FriedrichReinholdt, 7 Oakdene Ave., College Point, N.Y. Filed Apr. 27, 1959, Ser.No. 809,254 4 Claims. (Cl. S8--8i)) This invention relates to anemergency warning device, and more particularly to a portable, warningreflecting device having magnetic means therein for use by car owners invehicular traffic on cars, trains, or on the ground.

This is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No.691,090 filed October 18, 1957.

In many instances Where for example, motor tralc at night or in thedark, is congested or where there is `a road accident it is difficult inmany instances to give suilicient and timely warning to coming traic ofa tie up. The flashing of rear lights on a car for example is notsufficient and is wasteful because of undue strain on the car battery.Furthermore, oncoming motorists either do not see such warning lights orcompletely disregard such signals.

With the above in view, it is an object o-f the present invention toprovide a hand or like operated luminous warning device whereby adanger, or caution signal is given to prevent accidents on the highways.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a readilyassembled portable, self-luminous magnetic signalling device which canbe used vat any time usually `after dusk to ward olf any possibleaccidents on the highways or in any other area where there is danger ofcollisions, or passing through areas that are marked as olf limits forthe protection or safety of people and/or a community.

Still another and more specific object of the present invention is toprovide a self-luminous, instantaneously useable, portable, magneticreflecting warning device which has a luminous handle of suitable sizeand shape and can be magnetically attached to the car or a metalsupport, and an extension therefrom which has one or both sides adaptedto readily receive and retain a reflector to reect light and act as awarning signal to oncoming, usually night motorists or drivers.

One furthe-r object of the present invention is to provide a portablemagnetic unitary handle with easily receivable reflecting meansextending therefrom for use as a warning device.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken on line 2-2 of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the metal member adapted to support theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a perpendicular position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing tworeflector lenses combined together, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmental sectional view of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals, refer tolike parts throughout, it will be noted that I provide a unitary Warningdevice containing a handle 11 made of any suitable material such as ofmetal, wood, plastic and the like but preferably of plastic. One side 12of said handle 11 may be colored red and is selflurninous by the use ofred phosphorescent paint or the like so that when light shines on it,such side of the handle becomes luminescent and is readily seen ornoticed by anyone approaching in the direction of said device. The

other side 13 of the handle 11 is preferably of a luminescent green oramber color. In the lower or bottom portion of said handle 11, there isprovided an opening 10a in which there is housed a magnet 11a which isretained in said handle by holding means 11b. Said magnet issufficiently powerful to hold said device in extended position when thedevice is attached to a metal body such as a car or automobile or vontoan iron or steel plate as member 11C. l

Said handle 12 is provided at its upper portion with a hollow circularor disc like extending portion 14, and as seen from its cross sectionhas its outer periphery or rim 15 relatively flat or slightly curvedshaped,

It will be noted that the circular portion 14 is provided with a rim 15,the longitudinal cross section of whose interior is provided with aninclined section 16 one on each side of the longitudinal axis of theEach section is inclined as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 each having a seriesof peripherally arranged cross grooves 18 and bumps or beads 16a topermit sliding thereover of combined lens 22 formed of lens parts 23 and24. Furthermore, in the interior of the rim and the longitudinal yaxisthereof there are provided recessed slanting sections 19 forming agroove 19a into which said lenses fit once they have been forced intothe same by forcing them over the inwardly slanting annular beads orflanges 16. Said flanges prevent the lenses from becoming loose orfalling out of the groove 19a. The groove 19a is shallow or ilat Vshaped and has shoulders 17 and 20 as shown for accommodating the lenses23 and 24. Said rim is sharp edged, substantially at right angles to thegroove 19 and forms a support for the contacting edge 2l of a combinedlens 22. In `other words, rims 19 and Ztl are so shaped as to retainfirmly and securely said lens in the portion 14.

It will be further noted that the combined lens 22 consists of a pair ofconvex shaped light reflecting lenses 23 `and 24 having the usualcharacteristics of light reflectors and are joined together at theirdownwardly extending peripheral edges 25. Furthermore, said lenses arebonded together as a unit for ready assembly with the portion 14 as willhereinafter be more fully described. Said lenses are each provided witha slightly slanting peripheral portion 26 so as to permit easy slidingof the lens unit 22 over the rim 15 and form a compact unit with thehandle 11.

In assembling the lens unit and the handle, the lens unit is pressedequally against the rim 15 and beads 16a which because o-f the slightyield ability due to the various cross slots the rim has, permits thelens unit to enter the annular groove 19, (forming a tight t therein. Ithas been found that a handle made of any slightly resilient materialserves the purpose very well of accommodating the lens unit. Suchmaterial may be of plastic such `as polyethylene or a resilient metal.

In FIG. 3, I show how the device is mounted or magnetically attached toa suitable metal base 11C,

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the upper rim portion or extendingflange 15, may have an internally disposed annular formation whereby thereflector means can be readily inserted into the holder without the sameslipping out of said holder.

From the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings it will be noted that I provide an easilyassembled, manually operable, portable device for use as la warningsignal and light reflector which can be used instantaneously inemergencies Vor by merely magnetically attaching the device to the sideof the car or by laying the device on a plate in the road as a warningto motorists on any other occasion. For example, in cases of slow downs,or engine failure or flat tires in the use of automobiles, it may benecessary .to pull over to one side of the road. There are often timeswhen it is impossible because of obstructions to pull over or olf of thedriving pavement. Also, ditches and soft shoulders or steep banks orhigh curves afford no opportunity for the car to be pulled over to oneside of the road.` Under such conditions, it is necessary to use thehand signalling device made according to the present invention bywarning oncoming traffic so as to prevent any accidents. In themeantime, a device of the type described herein can be readily takenfrom the car and used by one of the occupants to warn oncoming traicthereby avoiding any accidents.

Such device may be carried, inserted into the ground, if the driver isalone and has to make repairs, or leave the car to obtain help forrepair of the car or to obtain gasoline. The device furthermore, may beattached to any object so as to make the same noticeable to oncomingtraic as a warning that there is danger ahead.

In lieu of a magnet holding member I may also provide a suction memberat the end of the handle of the device.

Furthermore, the device may have more than one reector for all clear,caution or danger ahead signalling.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed andillustrated it is to be understood that modifications as to form,arrangement of parts and use of materials may be made without departingfrom the scope and extent of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A portable, luminous signalling device comprising a handle, magneticmeans housed in one end of the handle, an extending expandable annularportion integral with the other end of said handle, said annular portionhaving annularly arranged spaced rib means with intermediate gap on theinner side thereof, and a peripheral groove forming annular shoulders,and a reflector lens unit insertable between said rib means and abuttingthe shoulders, said lens unit corresponding in color with the luminouscolor of the sides of the handle.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rib means is split topermit insertion of the lens unit therein and one of the ribs is of lessheight than other.

3. A device according to claim 1 where one of the rib collar means isprovided with at least one split to permit insertion of the lens unit inplace in the annular portion.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the extending rib portions havesuicient depth to hold the lens unit rmly in position, one of said ribshaving a sloped internally extending annular portion resting against theperiphery of the lens.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,641,880 Cohen Sept. 6, 1927 2,500,897 Friedman Mar. 14, 1950 2,542,894Blanchard Feb. 20, 1951 2,861,501 Strelakos Nov. 25, 1958 FOREIGNPATENTS 715,551 Great Britain Sept. 15, 1954 723,343 Great Britain Feb.9, 1955 751,234 Great Britain June 27, 1956

